Senate takes a first step in a new plan to pressure House on spending

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/26/ [login to see] /government-shutdown-house-republicans
Congress has returned to Washington facing a government shutdown less than five days away and lawmakers are still scrambling for ways to avoid it.

On Tuesday the Senate gave up waiting for House Republicans to resolve their own differences on spending and voted 77 to 19 to start the process for considering a stop-gap spending bill to keep the government open through November 17.

The bill includes $4.5 billion to support Ukraine through the defense budget, $1.65 in other aid for the country and $6 billion for disaster relief. It would also extend authorization for Federal Aviation Administration programs through the end of the year. The plan is the result of bipartisan talks but the fate of the bill is far from clear.